 | Miscellanies, in Verse and Prose |  |
On the Earl of Oxford's Enlargement.
Once then ev'n here has factious Fury fail'd;
Courage provok'd the test, and Truth prevail'd.
The fatal Hall, where Treason doom'd a flood
Of Royal once as well as noble Blood,
Proclaims at length a conquest more complete
Than ever hung her Walls with Trophies yet;
For there Britannia call'd her Champion forth,
Of antient Race, and of more antient Worth;
Secure of death, and dauntless to defy
Alike a Guiscard and a C---by:
Be bold (she cry'd) to vindicate the Laws,
And in thy own, maintain thy Country's cause;
The Resolution and the Cause agree;
Still present Thou to This, as That to Thee.
The People's madness, and the Senate's too,
'Tis Heav'n's to still, and Harley's to subdue.
Courage provok'd the test, and Truth prevail'd.
The fatal Hall, where Treason doom'd a flood
Of Royal once as well as noble Blood,
Proclaims at length a conquest more complete
Than ever hung her Walls with Trophies yet;
For there Britannia call'd her Champion forth,
Of antient Race, and of more antient Worth;
Secure of death, and dauntless to defy
Alike a Guiscard and a C---by:
Be bold (she cry'd) to vindicate the Laws,
And in thy own, maintain thy Country's cause;
The Resolution and the Cause agree;
Still present Thou to This, as That to Thee.
The People's madness, and the Senate's too,
'Tis Heav'n's to still, and Harley's to subdue.
So sham'd the Theban his Accuser's spite;
Thus Scipio, guilty of Desert too bright,
Led from the Bar to thank the gracious Pow'rs:
The third triumphant Criminal is ours:
For would we, Harley, to thy fame be just,
With eyes unblinded by our Fathers dust;
What honours crown the deathless memory
Of Patriots, wrong'd, by Greece, or Rome's decree,
Britain adorn'd and sav'd shall joy to render Thee;
And own, no warmer heart could e'er combine
With cooler head, or cleaner hands, than thine;
While Malice, underneath thy Olive laid,
Can tear the garland, but enjoy the shade.
When urg'd by flight for safety to provide,
And Nature ask'd what Honour ne'er deny'd;
You chose to stay, to suffer, and to dare:
Here stood a Host, a single Hero there.
As when some hardy Warrior of the main,
When warn'd of hostile fire, but warn'd in vain,
Serenely brave, the flaming Deck ascends,
And hails with chearful shouts his parting Friends.
Thus Scipio, guilty of Desert too bright,
55
The third triumphant Criminal is ours:
For would we, Harley, to thy fame be just,
With eyes unblinded by our Fathers dust;
What honours crown the deathless memory
Of Patriots, wrong'd, by Greece, or Rome's decree,
Britain adorn'd and sav'd shall joy to render Thee;
And own, no warmer heart could e'er combine
With cooler head, or cleaner hands, than thine;
While Malice, underneath thy Olive laid,
Can tear the garland, but enjoy the shade.
When urg'd by flight for safety to provide,
And Nature ask'd what Honour ne'er deny'd;
You chose to stay, to suffer, and to dare:
Here stood a Host, a single Hero there.
As when some hardy Warrior of the main,
When warn'd of hostile fire, but warn'd in vain,
Serenely brave, the flaming Deck ascends,
And hails with chearful shouts his parting Friends.
The danger such, to see you safe on shore,
Much was our wonder, but our joy was more;
A joy like That the chosen Flock confess'd,
When Peter, sav'd by miracle, they bless'd:
To baffle Pow'r, and foil the Keeper's art,
The Saint an Angel had, and You a heart.
Much was our wonder, but our joy was more;
A joy like That the chosen Flock confess'd,
When Peter, sav'd by miracle, they bless'd:
To baffle Pow'r, and foil the Keeper's art,
The Saint an Angel had, and You a heart.
| Miscellanies, in Verse and Prose | |